Disney-area shuttles carry 35 millionth rider

Nov. 13, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Paul Sanford, chair of the Anaheim Resort Transportation board of directors, speaks during the system's 10th anniversary celebration Tuesday morning at the Toy Story Parking lot in Anaheim. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Roxana Silva of Anaheim, pictured here with her two children, Aida, 8, and Angel, 12, was named the 35 millionth rider on the Anaheim Resort Transportation system during its 10th anniversary celebration Tuesday morning at the Toy Story Parking lot in Anaheim. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Paul Sanford, chair of the Anaheim Resort Transportation board of directors, names Roxana Silva of Anaheim the 35 millionth rider on the Anaheim Resort Transportation system during its 10th anniversary celebration Tuesday morning at the Toy Story Parking lot in Anaheim. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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The back of an ART bus. The Anaheim Resort Transportation system celebrated its 10th anniversary celebration Tuesday morning at the Toy Story Parking lot in Anaheim. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Paul Sanford, chair of the Anaheim Resort Transportation board of directors, speaks during the ART's 10th anniversary celebration Tuesday morning at the Toy Story Parking lot in Anaheim. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Roxana Silva of Anaheim and her two children, Angel, 12, and Aida, 8, sit on an ART bus on its way to Disneyland following a ceremony in which Silva was named the 35 millionth rider on the Anaheim Resort Transportation. A celebration of the system's 10th anniversary was held Tuesday morning at the Toy Story Parking lot in Anaheim. MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Paul Sanford, chair of the Anaheim Resort Transportation board of directors, speaks during the system's 10th anniversary celebration Tuesday morning at the Toy Story Parking lot in Anaheim.MARK RIGHTMIRE, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

ANAHEIM – A shuttle system centered in the Disneyland area celebrated its 35 millionth rider just as the city is attempting to begin a streetcar line that would mimic some of the routes.

On Tuesday, the Anaheim Resort Transportation, or ART, marked its 10th anniversary with a ceremony honoring the milestone visitor – Roxana Silva.

The Anaheim resident found out she was the 35 millionth rider after taking the shuttle on Friday to her workplace, the Boys & Girls Clubs. She was awestruck Tuesday when she found out that she got passes to several Southern California theme parks and venues.

ART's buses primarily serve the Disney area, but also go to the nearby Anaheim Metrolink Station at Angel Stadium and at the Honda Center. Earlier this year, buses began serving Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park and the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana.

Both visitors and resort-area workers use the buses.

The fare is $5 a day, with businesses, including hotels, picking up the rest of the $11 million needed each year to operate the line. There are 3.5 million boardings a year on the shuttles.

While ART celebrates its success, the city is pursuing another transportation system in the same area.

Last month, the council backed the concept of building a $319 million streetcar system on a 3.2-mile track mostly between an under-construction train hub near Angel Stadium and the two Disney parks. Anaheim has secured $24.6 million for the streetcars, but needs another $294 million to build it. See a previous story about the streetcar plan.

ART is doing a "restructuring" study to figure out how the shuttle buses would work alongside the streetcars, said Diana Kotler, executive director of the Anaheim Transportation Network that runs ART.

Councilwoman Gail Eastman said streetcars also are needed to accommodate the growth expected in the Disney area, as well as around the transportation hub, called the Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center. Plus, the streetcars will offer ease of transportation like in European countries, as well as in San Diego.

"This system, as much is it is growing, cannot handle the volume 10 to 20 years from now," said Eastman, a former ART board member.

In January, new routes are expected to add two important stops: downtown Anaheim and the Anaheim Canyon train station.

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